Creating Yourself

Look back on the last year of your life. Did it unfold the exact way you expected it would?

Chances are, it didn’t. And that’s 100% okay and normal.

We know the whole “roll with the punches” and “life happens when you’re busy making plans”. The idea of while you were moving full steam ahead to attain a certain goal, good ol’ life decides to through a wrench in your plans.

You lose your job. A relationship is broken. Maybe a sudden death happens.

It could also be a realization of your own purpose.

No matter how big or small the curveball it, it will undoubtedly cause stress, anxiety, and frustration.

No one likes to feel out of control, especially when it’s dealing with their own life.

I just recently came out of a boxing match with myself, attempting to fight the reality of how things were unfolding in my life.

For some reason, I couldn’t let go of ideas of how things were supposed to be. I wasn’t ready to face the harsh truth that I had to step off of my soap box and go the direction that was best for me at this moment.

Are you scratching your head wondering, what the heck is she talking about? I can explain..

For the last couple of years, I have been in search of my life’s calling. My purpose. My reason for waking up in the morning.

I had worked many jobs, quit just as many, and finally realized that I am meant (meant, being the key word) to create and become a blogger.

With this new found knowledge, I set out to become a blogger.

Being fortunate that I could focus on just this, I found myself at home, in my Pj’s, staring at a blank screen with no inspiration.

However, I was determined to make it my career, so I pushed forward. I felt like if I turned to get a “real job”, I would be nothing but a failure.

Months went by of struggling to be a full-time blogger, which was also accompanied by multiple breakdowns because, after all, that was what i was supposed to be.

It took me up until a couple months ago to realize that maybe I wasn’t meant to be a full-time blogger, and instead use it as a creative outlet.

So, feeling defeated, I went out in search a full-time job.

Guess what? I don’t feel like a failure.

I have used this transformational time to realize that I am not a failure just because I took a step back.

Instead, I am able to write freely without having to worry about inserting a link to get a discount. I’m not worried about how many visitors come here. I am released from any pressure to make sure every word written down perfect.

It’s time to get intentional about your life, but also embrace a change of pace and direction.

This is not to say that you should give up entirely on what your dream life should look like, but rather enjoy the ride while you’re on it.

Create the space to let yourself live, and understand that nothing will ever be perfect.

I have recently gone down a rabbit hole of self- doubt, uncertainty, and total lack of motivation.

I would wake up and feel like it’s groundhog’s day- the same unproductive routine over, and over and over again.

I was stuck in a rut.

Sometimes we have these moments that creep up on us when we least expect it.

Instead of letting the negative feelings pull you down, learn how to pick yourself up- even when you feel like there’s no escaping.

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash| Disclaimer: This post is NOT to help depression. I would advise seeking professional help if you believe you are suffering from depression.

I don’t know about you, but I need things to be shaken up in order for me to fuel my creative juices.

Being stuck and feeling like you can’t claw yourself out of it is an awful feeling.

No matter the reason for you feeling this way- work, relationships, physical or mental health- it’s normal for us to have off days!

However, sometimes that feeling sticks around longer than you would like.

Fortunately, there are some simple things that you can do to help yourself get out of that “blah” mode.

Here are few things that I did to kick start my productivity and get my positive mood back.

How to Get out of a Rut

Exercise

No matter how tired, lazy, busy, or unmotived you are.. you need to get your body moving. There are so many benefits that you will gain from just a 30-minute workout. Not only will it help you physically, but it will also help with your mental clarity. Maybe there’s a big project at work that’s causing you to get in this funk? Try up-ing your physical activity level and see how you can start to break down the problems you are dealing with.

Journal

Journaling will help you dive deep to figure out what’s going on in your noodle. Are you frustrated, sad, overwhelmed? Without trying to find a solution, you need to figure out the root of the problem. It’s great to get in a habit of jotting things down to help in the long run because maybe this rut you are in was a compounding of multiple things happening that could have been addressed. I like to set a timer for 5 minutes of uninterrupted and unedited journaling. Unedited being key- you want to let the words and feeling flood the paper, not what you THINK you should be writing. You’ll be amazed at what you find.

Eat Well & Stay Hydrated

When I feel myself starting to get into a rut, the first thing I straighten up is my diet and water intake. Sometimes getting into a better mood is just a simple fix of health. We need to fuel our body and mind with nutritious food that will power us through our days, not food that will make us sluggish and slow us down. Equally, drink that water! It’s key to stay well hydrated to help with your all over wellness. I can tell when I’ve been lacking in the health department when I start getting super unmotivated and LAZY. It’s not such a bad thing because it helps me stay on track health-wise!

Break Things Down

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. If you feel like you are overwhelmed with the number of things to do, try making small goals. It will seem less daunting and help reach what you are trying to accomplish. For instance, I was in a funk and couldn’t for the life of me finish a blog post I had started. So instead, I gave myself a small task of writing just a paragraph. All I needed was to write that. And when I did that, another paragraph. And then another. Same goes for the to-do list. Tackle a single item without thinking about all the other tasks that need to get done. Plan out your day and prioritize to be most efficient.

Get Social

Nothing is more therapeutic to me than meeting up with friends or family to just chat about life. I talk to my husband Chucky all the time about what I’m going through, and he is such a great support system. However, there are times where you need a different perspective and point of view. Grab a coffee with a close friend and just spill it all. Chances are, they will do the same for you and it will help both of you learn more about each other, as well as about what is truly going on with yourself. Socialization is key to happiness and getting yourself back on track.

Jump on the Podcast Train

I absolutely love getting fired up by listening to motivational or inspirational podcasts. Finding ones that fit exactly where I need help in my life at that moment- from getting that extra nudge for this blog, finding healing through spirituality, and even fitness motivation- there is always a podcast, book, or article that will help you. I recommend podcasts because there are literally no excuses to listen.. while you are driving, working out, or even showering. But if reading is your jam, then you do you! I am currently obsessed with listening to the Life Coach School Podcast by Brooke Castillo. She’s raw, real, and extremely motivational in helping us grow in many different aspects of our life.

Force Yourself

I acknowledge this isn’t really the advice you are looking for.. but every once in while you need to just eat that frog. Do that thing you don’t want to do AT ALL. The more you procrastinate, the more dread and stress will come from it. Just get’er done! Something I’ve been working on is getting the most important tasks done first thing in the morning. Knowing your hardest task is done and the rest of the day is smooth sailing is a fantastic feeling.

Get Some Vitamin D!

SADS, winter blues, or whatever you may call it- there is a reason these terms exist. We need some good ol’ rays of sunshine to help put us in better moods. So what if the sun hasn’t escaped the clouds in months? You can still benefit from taking a stroll on a cloudy day because the sun, believe it or not, IS behind those clouds 🙂 Just make sure to wear your sunscreen, even on the cloudiest of days.

Relax

Take a deep breath. It’s okay to not feel 100% all the time. You can’t always be Mr./Ms. Positive Pants. Sometimes these moods will wash over us and the only thing that will make us feel better is to realize that it’s okay to feel sad/down/unproductive/unmotivated. We all need breaks and maybe this is your body telling you to do just that. I have a hard time accepting that I’m stuck, but once I acknowledge it, I am able to take the steps to get me back on track.

We are all human, and life can be tough. Adulting is hard! So next time you are feeling in a rut, remember to follow some (or all!) of these steps to conquer your emotions.

Get a hobby that you can really delve deep into because chances are you will have to further your education for most hobbies to get better

Have conversations with your loved ones about topics that will create a discussion

Body

Find a workout that you truly enjoy doing, and commit to doing it 5 times a week.

Stretch! The most overlooked activity by far, but super important to help your body release tensions. Plus it feels amazing!

Eat foods that nourish you. Preferably a plant-based diet, but if that’s too much, start by incorporating more greens into your diet.

Limit your alcohol intake. I will NEVER say cut it out, because BEER, but moderation is key!

Relax! People are always running around and never truly sit and relax. Draw yourself an epsom salt bath and just breathe.

Soul

Find time in your day to meditate. Even just 5 mindful minutes can help tremendously.

Write a couple things you are grateful for in your gratitude journal every day. Even if you are having an awful day, being grateful for a warm cup of coffee or your dog will help shift your mind to a most positive way. At least for a little bit. (Read my post on How to Use Journaling to Manifest Your Dreams)

DayDream. Dream up how you want your life to look. And make it happen.

Creating a routine of some, or maybe all, of these items will set you up to be a super balanced and in tune with yourself.

Find time in the day to create a new rhythm that will help you slow down and really listen to how you feel or what you need in life.

Imagine this: dreaming about how you want your life to look like, and BAM- that’s your new reality.

Unfortunately, dreams don’t come true that fast but that’s not to say this can’t actually happen. I can tell you about multiple instances where I have literally dreamed up a situation and then a couple months (or years) later I am living that exact dream. To this day I still get goosebumps realizing that I literally created the life I want to live.

And guess what? You can too.

I use journaling as a tool to help manifest everything that has come into my life thus far.

That is the beautiful thing about writing things down- it makes you really think about what you want, how you want your life to look, and what your biggest and scariest dream are.

Once you put it down on paper, you can then let the universe work it’s magic to draw it in. I know some people get a little squirmy with using the words such as “universe”, so we can say positive vibes instead 🙂 When you send out positive vibes, it will be a domino effect and create lots of positivity around you and soon you start to see your world shifting toward what you want.

In order for all of this to happen, it starts with how you journal.

Here are some tips for writing the most powerful journal entries to help you get closer to your dreams.

5 Steps for Manifesting Your Wildest Dreams

1. Set Intentions

In order for everything around to start clicking into place, you need to write down exactly what you want. Your intentions are to help you dive deep into yourself to figure out what your dream life looks like. Overall, what type of life do you want to live?

2. Write in The Present Tense

This is one of the hardest things to do, especially if you are NOWHERE near where you want to be. I remember looking at myself in the mirror and seeing all the acne on my face and noticing every fat roll on my body and writing “I have clear, beautiful skin and a fit body.” Did I at the moment? Absolutely not. But I wanted it so bad, that I knew I had to write things down as if I had them already. You need to write everything in the present tense to get yourself in the mindset that you have these things already, or you are doing the crazy things you always wanted to do. Writing “I wish.. If only..”, sends of negative vibes, and we are trying to do nothing by positive thinking here, folks!

3. Be as Detailed as Possible

What would your typical day look like in your dream life? How early do you wake up.. or do you sleep in? Do you go out to eat every day or a couple times a week? Not only is it super fun to come up with little details, it also helps you truly decide what you want. I once wrote about living in downtown Denver in a cute 2 bed 2 bath condo… and about 3 years later, that’s where we are living now. Write it down and watch these things come to life.

4. Believe

Believe. Like REALLy believe you have it already. Write about it makes you feel, how you look, where you will be, etc. As you write out all of them, sit back and breathe in your dream life. Let the emotions wash over you. It’s okay to cry a little bit too. I have had some powerful journaling where as I sit and believe that I am doing what I want to do, I can’t help but get emotional with all the excitement and happiness I am about to bring into my life.

5. Take Action or Wait

Let the universe help you, but also help yourself. You cant say you want to get your dream job, and then sit and wait for them to call you. You have to actually apply with your amazing resume and cover letter, it’s up to YOU take the first steps toward it. There are some things you can set out and let happen naturally, but the majority of the time you need to actually take steps and meet the universe halfway.

6. Reread and Rewrite

Reread your journal entry every day to remind you of how bad you want it. ANd if you realize that some of the aspects don’t fit what you want anymore, go ahead and rewrite your story. And that’s what it is- your story. You decide how you want it to look and end

Final Thoughts…

I was never one to believe in the power of positive writing and gratitude journals, but time after time of my “wishes” coming true, I can’t help but preach that this actually works. There are times you get exactly what you want, and times where life leads you down a different path. Just take it, because who knows what other amazing things will happen from there.

There’s no better feeling than finding a book so powerful, you can’t help but yelp with excitement every time you turn the page.

Inspirational and self-improvement books have been my favorite to read lately, because they really give you something to practice while reading them, and well beyond the time you have finished. I give credit to the following books for getting me to where I am now… writing a blog about creating the life you want to live!

The following books not only help you look inwards to find your power, they also help set a fire to get you to where you want to be. I came up with this list of my favorites, all of which attack this subject in their own unique ways.

A transformative fable that takes you through the 7 steps of enlightenment. It focuses on living your dream life, even if you feel like you are at rock bottom. I pretty much highlighted the entire book because every page had a great message on it. Read this if you are feeling lost and uncertain about where you are heading in life.

I don’t think any list of inspirational books is complete without The Secret. This was the gateway book for me to explore more about the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction. Everyone should read this book at least once to realize how powerful your thoughts can be, after all, thoughts become things.

If you are in need of a book that will set a fire within you as well as make you laugh along the way- this book is for you. Jen focuses on many topics with the book from meditation, spirituality, to actual actions you need to take. She mentions the “Big Snooze”, meaning everyone is just sleeping through life and gives us the tools to wake the hell up.

Sophia is hilarious, witty, and raw. She walks us through how she went from a dumpster diving rebellious young adult to being the queen of her own vintage empire. I have this on the list for those trying to start their own business and have nothing but doubts. Sophia spells it out plain and simple- you can be a #girlboss no matter where you come from.

Final Thoughts
Each individual book will help you learn how to follow a path to your greatest life. Everyone needs a little guidance in their life, and this will be the perfect place to start.

Do any of you have a go to book for inspiraiton? I would love to hear about it!

Hello, Wild Tribe! Today we are going to talk about an uncomfortable topic- our fears. We are all humans, and everyone has some type of fear holding them back from reaching their true potential.

For me, I have a plethora of self- crushing fears that do nothing but create a wall. A wall that, in retrospect, can be lowered by my own thoughts. But because I spin things up, and make things seem impossible to conquer, I look at all the wall as being concrete and rooted- nothing can tear it down. If you are nodding your head thinking “Yup- I do that, too!”, then thank goodness I’m not alone 🙂

It’s easy to let fear take a hold of our thoughts, but it’s up to us to quiet the little guy. I have had three types of fear wash over me in the last year; fear of the unknown, fear of other’s opinions, and fear of failure. I was able to take all those fears, and see them as a positive thing due to three powerful quotes I stumbled upon within that time.

Read on to discover the best quotes for these fears you might encounter, as well.

Fear Of Unknown

There’s a reason why the term “comfort zone” exists. It’s where we feel safe, secure, and at ease. But what happens when you step out of that zone?You enter the twilight zone of the unknown. Where everything is new and scary because you don’t know how to navigate it. Maybe you are trying to start a new career, but feel like there are so many skills you need to learn- and it’s overwhelming. Or it could be a new adventure that is waiting, but you aren’t sure how things are going to turn out so you decide not to venture down that path.

“Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from experiencing a life greater than you have ever known.” -Jeff McClung

Your life can change drastically if you just take that leap of faith. Wouldn’t it be silly to know that the only thing stopping you from reaching your dream life is yourself? Look at the unknown as endless possibilities waiting for you to unleash.

Fear of Others Opinions

This was/is my hardest fear to date. It took me a long time to start up this blog, and actually tell people about it, because I was worried it wasn’t what people would like. Instead of reaching goals for myself, I was looking around to make sure the goal I was trying to reach was acceptable. Same can go for those living “unconventionally”, or just trying something you wouldn’t normally do in general.

” Care about what others think, and you will always be their prisoner.” – Lao Tzu

Trying to live your life for others will not get you to where you need or want to be. You need to listen to where your heart and passions are taking you- and go! Chances are, the people you think would have judged you, will actually be your biggest cheer squad. And if not- then who cares?

Fear of Failure

Ah, the holy grail of all fears. It’s completely normal to be scared of trying something new, starting a new career, or adventure. It’s scary not knowing if things will work out or not.

“What if I fall? Oh darling, what if you fly?”

We never know what will happen unless we try. So what happens if you fail? You dust yourself off and be thankful you gave it all you got because you now have a learning experience. It’s better to live life with no regrets and laugh at the times things didn’t go as planned, instead of regretting not trying at all.

Fear is a completely normal and natural part of life. What’s not normal is using fear to stop you from achieving whatever it is that you want. You literally have control over your own fear!

Final Thoughts

So I encourage you all to address what is scaring you and find the courage to break away. We will never know how truly amazing your life could be if you don’t take that leap. Apply for that position you think is out of reach. Quit your job if it is not fulfilling you and travel. Sing a song in karaoke. No matter how big or small your fear might be, you will thankful you put yourself out there and be amazed at where life will take you.

I absolutely love to daydream. It’s kind of my jam. My husbands and my favorite past time is to chat about our next big adventure or future goals. There is nothing wrong with this.

However, a couple years ago I realized I was utilizing the daydreams all wrong. I felt like the present moments had just passed me by- I didn’t take the time to enjoy the smells, sights, and feelings thoroughly enough because I was always looking for the next move or daydreaming about doing something else. I was living in my daydreams trying to find the ultimate happiness, instead of actually living life to the fullest.

Once this realization occurred, a sudden wave of emotions washed over me with the dreadful question; “Am I ever going to be happy and content where I am?”

It’s the amazing and terrifying ability that we literally have control of our own emotions and can make the most, or little, out of any situation. After regretting not living in the moments that have already passed me by, I realized that is not the way I want to live life. I want to take advantage of every moment that comes my way and look back knowing I lived it up. Here are the steps I take to make sure I stop chasing happiness and live my life in the moment

How to Stop Chasing Happiness

Be Present

It’s so much easier said than done. I’ve been there and done that- traveled to the most amazing places, experienced incredible things, lived in coveted areas, and yet I always found myself wanting more or wishing I was somewhere else. By the time I WAS somewhere else, I would look back and wish I soaked up every minute of being in said place. Is that a way I want to live? Constantly be regretting my past choices? Absolutely not. It wasn’t until recently where I started to adopt the mindset of being content. Live in the moment. Take in everything- good or bad. Go out dancing. Grab a drink with friends. Don’t just sit around and wait for the next big thing, because the time will pass no matter what.

Gratitude Journal

I am so thankful for my gratitude journal because it always keeps me grounded. I like to sit down in the morning and write 5 things that I’m grateful for. They can be as big or as small as you want them to be. Sometimes I’m just not having a good week and all I can think about is being grateful for the cup of coffee I’m drinking. Once you come up with these 5 things, it will help you focus on the here and now.

Set Goals

“She turned her cant’s into cans, and dreams into plans” – Kobi Yamada

When we think of dreams, it’s merely a wish. “I wish I could… I wish I lived…” But the moment you make it a plan, it’s now something you will work toward to have come to life. If you really want to be somewhere else, work to make it happen, but don’t forget to live the day to day life you have to live no matter what in order to get there. Trying to find work abroad? Amazing! While searching for that dream job, remember where you are and explore that city as much as you can.

Meditate

When you meditate, you are actively trying to listen to your thoughts and see what your body and mind are saying. This is the one exception where we are trying to go outside of the present moment. No matter what you are going through, mediation should always be your go to. It can be as simple as closing your eyes and listening to your breath for a minute, or going full out for an hour training your thoughts. You would be amazed at what you find out about yourself when you actually listen. Maybe you find out you aren’t going down the right path for you? This is the moment to really think about what you want. It’s important to check in with yourself every day.

Enjoy The Journey

It’s safe to safe that our life is sewn together by one moment to the next. But what happens in between? The not so glamorous everyday life. Those are the times we really need to stop and think about how awesome life is. How about we all try and breathe in the moments of today, and let life unfold naturally? I guarantee you will feel a little bit happier looking back at the days you spent enjoying the moments, instead of waiting for the future to happen.

Final Thoughts…

We are all on different paths in life, but our goals in life are ultimately to be happy, am I right? So instead of searching for happiness, try and bring it into your life every day. This, in turn, will make all the difference in the quality of life.

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